In a world in which people are accustomed to being connected everywhere—“everywhere” now encompassing everything from school buses [JWBWB1] to NFL stadiums—there is an increasing demand for Wi-Fi on airplanes. The airlines are currently working hard to provide Wi-Fi at speeds that will meet the demands of travelers, but the issue goes beyond that. The FAA has a few concerns about the use of Wi-Fi.
Dow Jones Business News reports that the FAA has cited over 150 Boeing Co. 737s and 777s that are susceptible to a threat posed by the signals. The source of the threat is their now-outdated Honeywell (News - Alert) International, Inc. pilot displays, which Wi-Fi signals “could cause essential pilot displays to blink or temporarily blank out.” Dow Jones Business News explains that this mandate comes “amid a proliferation of Web connectivity for airline passengers and pilots alike” and “also coincides with FAA deliberations to ease current cabin restrictions on using personal electronic devices below 10,000 feet.” The FAA has proposed a five-year deadline for compliance.
No matter how boring a flight may be, it is not worth sacrificing safety for entertainment and connectivity. While being connected in-air will be a blessing in many regards (despite the drawbacks posed to businesspeople whose bosses may expect them to conduct business on a cramped tray table), the need to be wired-in below 10,000 feet and connected to the Internet and VoIP services may be an example of how over-connected society has becoming, an obsession that has begun to border on mania.
For those who can’t live without being connected, it will come as good news that Gogo, Inc., the primary provider of in-flight Wi-Fi, is working on in-air connectivity that will process six times faster than the in-flight Wi-Fi that everyone has come to know and hate. While many travelers will be excited about this development, it begs the question; do we really want our bosses, clients, or other parties from whom we need a little peace now and then to be able to access us everywhere?
Edited by Rory J. Thompson